Wednesday, January 7, 2026 | 6:00 p.m. CT | Siegel Center | Richmond, Va. TV: CBS Sports Network (Chris Lewis, Steve Lappas, Jaclyn DeAugustino) Radio: 104.1 FM / 1120 AM KMOX (Bob Ramsey, Earl Austin Jr.)
The Atlantic 10 Conference tips off its marquee early-season matchup on Wednesday when the Saint Louis Billikens (13-1, 1-0 A-10) travel to Richmond to face the VCU Rams (11-4, 2-0 A-10). This showdown pits the preseason poll’s top two teams against each other, with the Billikens and Rams separated by just one point in the coaches’ vote and sharing the same number of first-place nods.
Both programs dominate advanced metrics entering the week: Saint Louis ranks 41st in KenPom and 29th in NCAA NET, while VCU sits 42nd in KenPom and 52nd in NET. With SLU riding a seven-game win streak and VCU on a five-game surge, this road test at the unforgiving Siegel Center could set the tone for the A-10 race.
The Billikens are enjoying their best start since the 1993-94 squad opened 14-0. Under second-year head coach Josh Schertz – whose career .777 winning percentage ranks seventh among active NCAA coaches – SLU has transformed into a high-octane machine.
Saint Louis leads the nation in several categories:
- Fourth in scoring offense (95.0 ppg)
- Second in scoring margin (+27.5)
- Eighth in field goal percentage (.525)
The Bills have set school records with six 100-point games this season, seven straight outings of 85+ points, and three consecutive 90+ point efforts. Their latest explosion came in a 102-79 rout of Saint Joseph’s, where they drained a program-record 19 three-pointers on 59.4% from deep and dished 25 assists on 38 made field goals.
Defensively, opponents struggle mightily, shooting just 36.2% (second nationally) and 27.8% from three (10th nationally). SLU also dominates the glass, ranking third in rebounds per game (44.6) and rebound margin (+14.6).
Key players driving the attack:
- Robbie Avila (12.9 ppg, 3.9 apg) – The preseason watch list star (Naismith, Wooden, etc.) leads all Division I centers in assists and is the only active player with 1,500+ career points, 600+ rebounds, and 350+ assists.
- Dion Brown (12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg) – Tops the team in rebounding and ranks seventh nationally in FG% (.673) among guards.
- Trey Green (11.6 ppg) – Second in the A-10 in made threes (2.86 per game) and leads the league in 3FG% (45.5%).
- Depth from Amari McCottry (11.0 ppg), Quentin Jones (10.7 ppg), and Ishan Sharma (9.4 ppg).
First-year head coach Phil Martelli Jr. has the Rams off to a solid start, bolstered by recent wins over St. Bonaventure and Duquesne. Like SLU, VCU boasts balanced scoring with eight players averaging at least 6.1 ppg.
The Rams love the three-ball, ranking second in the A-10 in attempts (27.4 per game) and makes (10.1 per game). Bench sparkplug Terrence Hill Jr. (14.0 ppg) leads the charge with 44% shooting from deep (second in conference). Lazar Djokovic (13.3 ppg, team-high 17 blocks) anchors the interior alongside Jadrian Tracey (10.5 ppg) and freshman standout Nyk Lewis (10.2 ppg, three-time A-10 Freshman of the Week).
Statistically, VCU scores 87.2 ppg but allows 73.4, with a +13.8 margin. They rebound at 37.5 per game (+3.3 margin) and force turnovers effectively.
VCU holds a commanding 17-6 all-time edge, including a perfect 10-0 at the Siegel Center. Last season’s split saw each team win at home, with SLU’s January victory snapping VCU’s six-game streak. The rematch comes February 20 at Chaifetz Arena.
Key matchup: SLU’s elite defense vs. VCU’s three-point volume. The Billikens limit opponents to the nation’s 10th-lowest 3FG%, while the Rams hoist plenty – can VCU get hot from outside to offset SLU’s rebounding dominance?
Another intrigue: SLU’s assist-heavy attack (19.5 apg, 12th nationally) against VCU’s pressure.
This game features two of the A-10’s – and nation’s – most efficient teams battling for early conference supremacy. In a hostile road environment where VCU has never lost to SLU, the Billikens face their toughest test yet. Expect a high-scoring affair with national implications.
